Call it a win for dog owners everywhere. Zupkus & Angell attorneys Kristi Lush and Erica Payne secured a victory for their client, a dog owner, in a landmark case of first impression in Colorado. A three-year legal battle culminated today with the Colorado Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict that, in the absence of a special relationship, a landowner whose dogs ran at his fence and barked at a pedestrian, who then ran into the street and was struck by a vehicle, owed no duty to the pedestrian. Oral argument was held on May 4, 2017 at South High School in Pueblo, Colorado as part of the Colorado Supreme Court’s Community Outreach Program.

A Win for Dog Owners!

On July 24, 2014, Z&A secured a ruling in favor of its client in a Colorado Premises Liability Act (“PLA”) and negligence matter filed in Adams County District Court. Partner Kristi Lush and Associate Erica Payne successfully moved to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims for failure to state a claim for relief pursuant to C.R.C.P. 12(b)(5).

Erica's practice focuses on commercial and civil litigation. She has experience litigating a variety of issues, including premises liability, construction defect, insurance defense, appeals, product liability, personal injury, and water rights. Prior to joining Zupkus & Angell as an associate, Erica worked in both private practice and as in-house counsel for a rapidly growing nonprofit organization.